The Power of the Triple Set: Mindset, Skillset, Toolset for Data-Driven Project Management

Dave Turnbull, Enterprise Project Controls Manager from EDF and key member of the Project Data Analytics Coalition shares how his organisation is reimagining project delivery through a holistic approach focused on mindset, skillset, and toolset.

2023 was the “year of the toolset,” where EDF concentrated on building the infrastructure necessary to harness data effectively. 2024 was the “year of the skillset,” where EDF is focused on upskilling both seasoned professionals and those already proficient in data analytics. By combining a robust infrastructure with enhanced skills, Turnbull believes the organisation can change the mindset of its employees, ultimately transforming how projects are delivered in 2025.

What You’ll Learn:

• How the “Triple Set” framework can revolutionise your project management approach.
• Steps to implement centralised data lakes and ensure real-time, reliable data access.
• Insights into predictive analytics to forecast outcomes and mitigate risks.
• Practical methods to embed a culture of data-driven decision-making in your organisation.

We really enjoyed this clear no nonsense delivery from Dave – he makes a difficult subject easier to understand and it should be a must-watch session for anyone working in PMO today.

Recorded Session

Presentation Deck

If you’ve ever felt like you’re swimming in project data but not quite making sense of it, you’re not alone. In this recent virtual session, Dave Turnbull (Enterprise Project Controls Manager at EDF) laid out a refreshingly honest view of what it takes to become a data-driven PMO. Spoiler: it’s not all dashboards and data warehouses.

Over a cup of coffee (or tea, your call), here’s what stood out from Dave’s session, part storytelling, part strategic wisdom, all grounded in real-world PMO practice.

What Was Covered

Dave started by painting a familiar picture: spreadsheets, disconnected tools, low trust in data, and reactive decision-making. For many PMO teams, this might hit a bit close to home.

But rather than launching into a tech-first transformation, Dave zeroed in on what he calls the “Triple Set”:

• Mindset – Getting people to think differently about data.

• Skillset – Building the capability to analyse, interpret and use data.

• Toolset – Using the right systems and tools (in that order).

This simple but powerful model became the backbone of EDF’s journey towards smarter, more consistent project decisions.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

• The ‘Penny Dropping’ Moment
  A turning point came when senior leaders saw, in stark numbers, how project delivery performance really looked. It wasn’t pretty. But it was the jolt needed to start talking about change more seriously.

• Change Starts with Conversations, Not Software
  Dave shared how, early on, the PMO focused less on buying tools and more on building trust. Simple reporting improvements and honest conversations about what data actually meant laid the groundwork.

• Capability Gaps in the PMO
  There was some strong discussion about how traditional PMO roles don’t always equip people to analyse or interpret data well. You need analysts, yes, but also coaches and ‘translators’ who can bring insight to life for delivery teams and execs.

• Don’t Let Tools Drive the Process
  EDF trialled and tested before committing to any toolsets. The focus was on creating process clarity first, then matching tools to support that.

• Make It Visible
  Whether it was KPIs, delivery confidence levels, or forecasts, Dave talked about the power of transparency, not to shame, but to spark informed dialogue.

Key Insights

• You can’t fix data culture with tech alone. Culture and capability come first.

• Visibility breeds accountability. When data is trusted and shared, better conversations happen.

• Start where people are – use what they’re familiar with and evolve gradually.

• The PMO can act as a facilitator of insight, not just a provider of reports.

One of the things that really stood out about Dave’s presentation was his ability to tell a story and to talk about data we can all relate to – such as the use of Google Maps – which has to be a bonus when speaking with parts of the business who are also struggling to understand what data transformation means for their business. You should watch David’s presentation and take note of the style and examples he’s using.

Try This in Your PMO

1. Run a “Data Discovery” Workshop
   Ask your team and stakeholders: What data do we collect? What decisions does it support? Where are the gaps?
2. Visualise Something Ugly
   Choose one underperforming project or metric. Show it clearly, then use it as a prompt for a constructive discussion.
3. Buddy Up Analysts with Delivery Leads
   Pair up your analysts with delivery folks to co-develop reports. It helps build understanding on both sides.
4. Create a ‘Glossary of Truth’
   Define your key metrics, what they really mean, and how they’re calculated. Publish it and keep it updated.
5. Start Talking About Mindset
   Use team meetings or one-to-ones to explore how people feel about data – sceptical? defensive? overwhelmed? That’s your starting point.

This session wasn’t about silver bullets. It was about hard-earned lessons, persistence, and shifting the PMO’s role from record-keeper to enabler. Whether you’re just starting your data journey or knee-deep in Power BI dashboards, Dave’s core message is worth holding onto:

Change the way people think about data, and everything else gets easier.